3D Printer

This is where I am so far on the 3D printer. This is not a CNC router that cuts shapes out of material. This will actually print plastic into a shape creating it layer by layer. All the blue pieces you see in this were printed on another 3D printer. It has four stepper motors one each for the X, Y, And Z axises, and then one to force the plastic filament to the heating head. The X axis has a bed that moves in and out. The Y will slide side to side on two rods. Then the Z moves the whole Y set up and down two threaded rod. The extruder is a brass tube with the outside warped in nichrome wire. Then the mother board controls all four stepper motors and the extruder speed.
I still need to install the frameware on the motherboard for the driver, and I need to get the interface for USB connection on the computer working. Other than that it is almost done. I hope to have it up and running by the time my son is born in July.
The applications are endless. I can replace plastic parts that break, make new prototypes, make model pieces to scale. Then just think for a moment that I could print other things like silver and silicone. I could print circuit boards. In the future, you could see something you like on line and just print it rather than waiting for it to come in the mail.